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defense advanced research projects agency.
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Showing posts with label
defense advanced research projects agency.
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The humanoid Robonaut-2 (R-2) was powered-up by inside the International Space Station (ISS) on Sept. 1, 2011 but the astronauts and NASA's Mission Control team noted the need to make sensor adjustments prior to "first motion" by mid-month.
AVIATION WEEK notes, "Project engineers plan a continuing series of workouts that in the near term place R2 before a task board in Destiny to assess the machine's effectiveness with a collection of tools. Next, he may take on maintenance duties in the lab, cleaning air flow filters and sanitizing handrails."
The 330-pound humanoid robot is set to begin its life as an astronaut's assistant or, come November is it to become the acting-commander aboard the International Space Station if each of the six humans depart due to lack of human space transports?
R-2 ground controllers say the robot may be able to take on a few mundane chores - like taking air velocity measurements inside the space station - early next year. Plans now call for R-2 to gain space legs in 2013 for subsequent ISS spacewalks.
But can Robonaut-2 deal with a rapid promotion from astronaut-assistant to ISS command? Can NASA programmers speed the development to tend the space station should humans be required to depart in November? Exactly what R-2 is possibily capable to do if there are no humans around? Are NASA and GM considering such a plan? Where are the "failure is not an option" robot engineers?
Source: anomalies-in-backyard.blogspot.com
After more than seven months circling the planet, the United States Air Force's unmanned miniature space shuttle, known as the X 37B or USA-212, is poised to land at VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, California possibly as soon as Friday.
The military has released the typical notices to pilots and mariners, or NOTAMs, warning of an upcoming operation at the base. The notice advises of a military operation between 10 p.m. Thursday and 7 a.m. Friday. It will be the second reusable spacecraft to perform an automated landing after returning from orbit, the first being the RUSSIAN BURAN SPACECRAFT in 1988.
The small unmanned vehicle - boasting a wingspan of nearly 15 feet, a height of more than 9 feet and a length of 29 feet - LAUNCHED ABOARD AN ATLAS 5 ROCKET that blasted off in late April from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. More from THE LOS ANGELES TIMES, DISCOVERY NEWS, AVIATION WEEK, and SPACEFLIGHT NOW.
Source: chupacabra-digest.blogspot.com
This saucer-shaped object caused a stir in the area prompting many to call 911 and to post photos on Twitter.We later learned the mysterious object was an experimental, unmanned aircraft.The aircraft was delivered to the Patuxent Naval Air Station for testing, and on Tuesday, FOX 5 got its first close-up look at the drone.The Navy calls it the X-47B. This is what the future looks like.The Navy put the plane on a flatbed for its trip to Maryland, never guessing shutterbug drivers would put it on Twitter."We all got a laugh out of it," said U.S. Navy Test Engineer Matt Funk. "There was nothing real secretive about it, but we didn't go out of our way to publicize it."Now for the first time, the Navy is pulling the wraps off the X-47B, which is built by Northrop Grumman. They hope it will be the first of a new wave of unmanned military aircraft."This is one of those that's a demonstration program and it really excites the interest of a lot of folks," said U.S. Navy Captain Jamie Engdahl.The X-47B is flown completely by its computer. But if it loses contact with air traffic controllers, it flies back to its base like a homing pigeon.Calling it a drone is an understatement. The stealth aircraft will takf and land on aircraft carriers, which no drone has ever done. It carries a 4,500-pound payload, but the Navy won't say what kind of payload."This is what you'll see at any Navy or Marine Corps base within the next decade," said U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Randolf Mahr.And while the X-47B has all sorts of new technology and maneuverability, there is one thing it can't out maneuver: fiscal realities and shrinking Pentagon budgets, which puts pressure on its creators."Each and every one of us are taxpayers, so it's not somebody else's money, it's our resource together," said Rear Adm. Mathias Winter.On Sunday, the estimated 800 million aircraft made its first 35 minute flight at Patuxent River. Navy officials say they want to prove the X-47B an investment, not just an expensive experiment.The real test is coming next year in 2013. That is when the Navy is going to fly the X-47B and land it on the deck of a real aircraft carrier. That is going to be important, but ultimately, the idea is that these unmanned planes will one day work side-by-side with piloted jet fighters.Source: stephenhannardadguk
